gaff

Mane (Îngilîzî)

Noun

1. A tool consisting of a large metal hook with a handle or pole, especially the one used to pull large fish aboard a boat.
2. A minor error or faux pas, a gaffe.
3. A trick or con.
4. The upper spar used to control a gaff-rigged sail.
5. A type of tight, panty-like underwear worn to hold the male genitalia tucked backwards and make one's genital region look smooth, as if one had a vulva.

Verb

1. To use a gaff, especially to land a fish.
2. To cheat or hoax.
3. To doctor or modify for deceptive purposes.
4. (obsolete,slang) To gamble, especially by tossing coins.
5. (informal) To affix gaffer tape to, or cover with gaffer tape.

Sînonîm

hook

🪝

harpoon

long-handled hook

cramp

crux

deceive

difficulty

fish-fork

fishhook

fish spear

fizgig

gad

gaff rig

gig

gripper

hitch

inconvenience

arduousness

lance

nonsense

pawl

penalty

rub

rubbish

scabrousness

spar

spear

spike

spur

straitness

straits

stuff

suffering

leister

elephant goad

knot

🪢

barb

cant hook

Wekî (IPA) tê gotin

/ɡæf/

Etîmolojî (Îngilîzî)

From Middle English gaffe, from Old French gaffe, from Old Occitan gaf (“hook”), derivative of gafar (“to seize”), from Gothic 𐌲𐌰𐍆𐍆- (gaff-) derived from 𐌲𐌹𐌱𐌰𐌽 (giban, “to give”). Doublet of gaffe.
The underwear sense apparently derives from the idea that the garment tricks or deceives others about the wearer's genitalia.